iPad 2 Exorcism!

In coincidence with the Chinese seventh month, all of the sudden, my iPad2 started behaving as though it has been possessed by an evil spirit. It just moves and types by itself (you can see how my iPad misbehaved in the YouTube video that I have uploaded). Earlier, I thought it was due to the screen protector but the problem persisted even though I have removed it. I tried restoring my iPad but to no avail. Giving up, I ran a Google search to see if there is anyone on the net that happens to share the same problem. I was surprised that apparently this is a very common problem for iPad users. Most of them got their iPad exchanged for a new one right away. 

So since my iPad is still under warranty, I decided to try my luck at the local Machines store.

Last Sunday I went to the Machines store at Mid Valley and lodged a complain regarding my iPad. Without even looking at my iPad, the guy in-charge gave me a set of directions that I should visit their Service Center instead and as it was Sunday, the Service Center was closed and I have to come back the next day. Not satisfied with the way I was treated, I tried the Machines store at The Gardens instead. This time, the guy in-charge was considerate enough to take a look at my iPad and tried to repair it to no avail, of course. But I really appreciate the concern and the effort to resuscitate my iPad unlike the other guy at Mid Valley.

It's just like being a doctor. Some doctors take some time to chit chat with their patients every morning during ward rounds and some would just walk from bed-to-bed without a single smile to the patients. Which doctor do you prefer if you happened to be the one lying on the bed? *Touch wood*

After a few fruitless attempts, the guy who looked into my iPad gave up and told me to visit their Service Center the next day. Fine.

On Monday, I went all the way to their Service Center only to be greeted with a really long queue and only 2 working counters out of 4 available. It was already almost 5pm and their center closes at 6pm. And by 5:45pm the queue only got longer and it was only at that time when they obliged to open up all their counters! I mean, how can you have only 2 counters running when you have tenths of people waiting for their turns and you actually take 15-30 minutes to serve each customers right? Speaking of efficiency here.

So after 1 long hour, my turn came and they guy who served me was very polite. He told me that such problem is very common and he has seen loads of them. However, he warned me that I have voided my warranty because I have damaged my iPad...

...Pause. I just gave him the blank look.

He turned my iPad and showed me the slight dent at the top left corner.

"It doesn't matter if you have dropped this iPad or bang it against a hard surface, but Apple will not accept your iPad for an exchange for a new one if it is not in a good condition."

Fine, I thought. But it was such a small dent and I could not remember any accounts when I have actually dropped the iPad. Otherwise it looked brand new. I tried to reason my way out but he told me that he was just following the protocol.

So I need to speak to someone with more authority, I thought.

I left the Service Center, headed for Starbucks, The Gardens and snapped a few photos of my iPad (you can scroll all the way down and look at them yourself). I proceeded to calling the Apple Customer Service. The receptionist who greeted me told me exactly the same thing that I have voided my warranty due to the slight damage on my iPad. This is ridiculous.

I mean, it is just a slight dent and if such small dent can cause such a big and significant damage to an iPad, doesn't that makes iPad sounds useless to you? If people around the world can have the same problem without even scratching their iPad, does this means that I am at fault of causing this problem to mine instead? In my humble opinion, it actually means that the problem is with the hardware itself, Apple is at fault for this. It has nothing to do with the slight dent on my iPad don't you agree? I would not mind if you exchange another dented iPad for me as long as it works!

I tried my best to reason my way out, of course. No way I am giving up this fight.

So the receptionist connected me to someone of higher authority. So this gentleman (with American accent) who spoke to me was considerate and kind enough to request photos of my iPad for consideration (I expected that). I told him that the photos were ready and I would e-mail them right away. He was glad to hear that and told me he had 1 more hour at work and could actually take some time to look into my case. He further advised me to drop my contact number at the e-mail itself so that he could contact me after reviewing my photos and case.

Without any further ado, I e-mailed all the photos to him after hanging up the call and sat there at Starbucks waiting for his call...

1 hour passed with a blink of an eye...No call yet...

2 hours...My phone was almost out of battery...No call yet...

3 hours...I gave up and left...

Up till today, I am still checking my mailbox or my phone once a while hoping for a respond. I do not know what is there left to do. My iPad is seriously sick and I need a proper respond from Apple regarding this matter. As for now, I can only leave the case to the hands of the gentleman who promised to review my case and photos. I am keeping my fingers' crossed for good news. For your information, there are only 23 days left on my iPad warranty. I can see why they are reluctant to exchange my iPad for a new one.

Don't tell me that I have to chuck this iPad2 away and reuse my iPad1. And iPad1 is not iOS6 compatible! Sigh...